Headache post



April 7, 1931. WpEUSTlCE 1,799,964

HEADACHE POST Filed June 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PatentedApr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES 'WILLIAM EUSTICE, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA COMPANY,OF PARKERSBURG,

ASSIGNOR TO PABKEBSBURG RIG & REEL WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION HEADACHEPOST Application. filed June 28,

This invention relates to headache or shock absorbing posts which areused in standard rigs or derricks for oil wells.

An object of this invention is to provide a headache post that isadjustable so that the height of the post may be altered to suit theparticular stroke of the walking beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a headache post having aresilient cap which will absorb shocks of the falling walking beam.

These and other objects which will be readily apparent to those skilledin this particular art I attain by means of the embodiment of thisinvention, which is described in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial view in perspective of a rig showing the improvedheadache post;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the headache post;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the headache post;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation ofthe post;

Fig. 5 is a view in 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the headache post; and

Fig. 7 is an illustration of the U-bolt used to fasten the cap on thepost.

A headache post 10 embodying this invention is shown in Fig. 1 inconnection with a standard rig or derrick having a walking beam 11carried in saddle 12 mounted on an upright or A-shaped post 13 called aSamson post. During the drilling operation, end 14. of the walking beam11, to which the drilling tools (not shown) are attached, is oscillatedby pitman 15'which connects end 16 of the section taken on line walkingbeam to crank 17 carried on the band wheel shaft 17*, which is drivendirectly by an engine or motor (not shown). Headache post 10 is locateddirectly beneath the end 14: of the walking beam and limits its downwardstrokes. If the pitman 15 or crank 17 should break while drilling, post10 catches the falling beam and prevents injury to the derrick, thecable supporting the tools in the well as well as the operators.Generally the head- 1930. semi No. 464,577.

ache post is of such a height that the walking beam barely misses itstop at the end of its downward stroke. My improved headache post is madeof steel and has a resilient cap for receiving the shock of the fallingwalking beam. The post 10 has a body section18 formed from an I-beam cutto the proper length. Riveted to the flanges of the body section 18 atthe bottom of the post are angle members 19 having feet 20 extendinglaterally from the body section. The post is fastened to one of thesills of the rig or derrick by bolts extending through the openings 21drilled in the feet 20 of the angle members 19 and is braced to theSamson post by a rigid strut 22. A cap 23, which is preferably made ofwood, but which may be of any other suitable resllient material, issupported on the top of the body section by angle members 24: which areriveted on opposite sides of the web of the I-beam section between theflanges thereof. The angle members 24 lie on opposite sides of the bodysection and the tops of the upper flanges of the angle section 24 areflush with the top of the body section and extend in opposite directionsfrom angle members 19 at the bottom of the body section or rather atright angles thereto. Cap 23 is secured in place on flanges 25 by aU-bolt 26 which extends downwardly through holes 27 drilled through thecap and holes 28 drilled in flanges 25 of angle members 24. The crossmember 30 of the U-bolt lies within a groove formed in the top of cap23.

It is obvious from the above description that the headache post isreadily adjustable to suit the stroke of the walking beam. If the lengthof the walking beam stroke has been decreased, it is only necessary toloosen the nuts 29, raise the cap 23 and insert wood blocks 31 or otherfillers between the cap and the top of the I-beam and the top faces ofthe angle members to bring the headache post to the proper height forthat particular stroke of the beam. If the stroke of the walking beamhas been increased, the reverse operation would take place and thefillers would be removed. The cap is of such thickness that with it inplace on the body section, the post will be the proper height for thelongest stroke of the walking beam. In using a Wooden cap or block ontop of the post, the shock of the falling walking beam is absorbed muchbetter than would be the case if a solid steel post were used. However,it is readily understood that a cap made of any resilient material maybe used in place of wood.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

A headache post for a drilling rig, having a vertical body sectionformed from an I- beam, angle members secured to the flanges of saidbody section for securing said body section rigidly to the rig base,angle members secured to the web of the body section on each sidethereof and having the top surface thereof flush with the top of saidI-beam, a resilient cap for said post, removable fillers between saidcap and said angle members and a U-bolt countersunk in said cap havingthe legs thereof extending downwardly through openings in said cap,filler and angle members for securing said cap thereon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th dayof June, 1930.

WVILLIAM EUSTIGE.

